Hexanon 28/2.8 : A surprise at f16 also!

[oldoc]

Last weekend, I was shooting with my new (at least to me) MP, and used the Hexanon 28/2.8 as well.
I shot many landscape shots, and architectures, but the thing which came to me over and over is the sweet sharpness even in landscape shots of this really fine lens. I recently sold a very nice 28 mm Elmarit 3rd generation, which had pleased me very much at all apertures, but...HUGE difference in the Hexanon.
Wondering if this reflects the experience of others. I don't usually start threads of praise, but some things have to be shown...
The MP?
Best machine I've ever held.

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[oldoc]

 

[35mmdelux]

Interesting. Thanks for posting.

 

[oldoc]

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I have a 35mm Hexanon, which is about the size of the Summilux. I thought I was compromising by not buying anything with the L of Leica on... but I was wrong; it's a very well made lens, and quite a performer (no distortion, nice contrast in B&W or color, sharp wide open...).

Yep... those Konica products were very, very good.

 

[mfunnell]

I've ended up with a bunch of Konica lenses, not so much by design but because a well-priced lens at each focal length I was interested in seemed to pop up at just the right time.

I'd like to take more credit for planning that, because each and every one of them is a gem - including the 28mm, which is one of my favourite lenses.

...Mike

 

[leicashot]

Congrats, but not sure what you mean by 'surprise at f/16'

Usually diffraction starts at f/11 and you don't really 'need' to shoot at f/16 for the images you posted. First image looks 1/3 to 1/2 stop over exposed to me.

Were you shooting at f/16?

 

[amateriat]

Can't say I've done much shooting at f/16 with any lens, never mind any of my M-hex glass. But they haven't let me down yet, at any aperture I have used, generally from wide-open to about f/11. The 28 is, of course, magnificent.


- Barrett

 

[david.elliott]

I like the second photo a lot!

 

[Krosya]

Thats what we - Konica users keep telling everyone - these are some superb lenses!

 

[oldoc]

Yeah, Leica shot, f16.
Extremely bright day here in the South, it was.
Agree that it is a bit over, but I wanted to bring the image straight off the scan (which was a little hot) rather than charm it in PS...

 

[oldoc]

Even at f11, you are correct....as below.
Note my son's "new -to-him" camera...

 

[OurManInTangier]

The Hex 28mm 2.8 has been a revelation to me generally. I've had it for a few months now and utterly love it at every aperture I've used it at. Very little distortion and super sharp, possibly too sharp for some tastes but not for me. I don't ever see a reason to change it!

 

[Krosya]

I think Hexanons , while are sharp, they have this "gentle" feel to their sharpness, so images dont have that clinical sharpness to them, like some other lenses have. All in all - perfect for me.

 

[oldoc]

I think I know what you mean about their "feel". I think it's seen in black-and-white...

 

[venchka]

For decades I never got along well with 28mm lenses. Didn't have one. Didn't want one. All that changed when I bought the 28mm M-Hexanon. I don't even know why I bought it. I hated 28mm lenses. That was then. Now I like 28mm.

 

[peter_n]

Konica optics and Hexanon were always of the highest quality. During their production heyday years the Hexanon lenses were used by the Japanese Ministry of Industry as the reference standard by which the quality of all other manufacturers' lenses were judged. They did this through the NGO Japan Camera Inspection Institute (JCII) directed by Kinji Moriyama, an MP and Cabinet Minister. That organization no longer exists now that the design and manufacture of optics has become globalized, but the relatively modern M-Hexanon lenses carry on the proud tradition.

 

[oldoc]

The build quality is the other piece.
Like handling a lens from Leitz in my view.
Must say Amateriat's gallery influenced me, as did Krosya's, to consider Konica for the first time.
I sold my first 50/2.0 to Never Satisfied....worst move ever for me.

 

[Krosya]

Michael,I got Hexanon 50/2 for sale if you wanted to get one 😉

 

[leicashot]

I think Hexanons , while are sharp, they have this "gentle" feel to their sharpness, so images dont have that clinical sharpness to them, like some other lenses have. All in all - perfect for me.

I'm not trolling, but I really don't understand what is meant by 'clinical' sharpness people talk about. Either it's relly soft, soft, semi-soft, sharp-ish, semi-sharp, sharp or very sharp.

What would happen if Hexar came out with a new lens that was very sharp? What would you say? It's no good, or a better style of sharpness than a Leica?

I'm never understood this, and probably never will....not that is matters to anyone here 😀

I understand when it comes to drawing character of bokeh and transition of focus to out of focus at fast apertures, but lens sharpness and resolution is what all high end manufacturers strive for, except for maybe Holga. I can imagine lens makers laughing in their pants about 'clinical sharpness', asking themselves "what do people want, seriously?"

This is where I draw the line and say, "c'mon, Hexar lenses are just as good as Leica's at 1 stop down from open aperture (sometimes equal), so go out and focus on getting a non-clinical image, rather than worrying about the potential of clinical-sharpness". I don't believe a great pictures has anything to do with sharpness. People who can afford/or want to spend the $$$ on Leica do so, and others are happy with VC/Hexar etc. The notion of people chosing a Hexar lens over a Leica, or vice versa due to 'clinical-sharpness' is plain silly. No offense to anyone, but that's where I think the line needs to be drawn.....get out and worry about improving your photography instead of worrying about silly 'clinical' issues like degree/style of sharpness.....bokeh talk is enough as it is, right?